Sawmill Creek Woodworking Community - Laser Engraving General Topicshttps://sawmillcreek.org/
Tips, Tricks and Techniques for Laser and Mechanical EngravingenFri, 22 Feb 2019 13:32:03 GMTvBulletin180https://sawmillcreek.org/images/misc/rss.pngSawmill Creek Woodworking Community - Laser Engraving General Topicshttps://sawmillcreek.org/
Trotec Tickle adjustmenthttps://sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?272225-Trotec-Tickle-adjustment&goto=newpost
Fri, 22 Feb 2019 02:37:30 GMTIt appears my two year old refurbished tube (Synrad Firestar t60 series) on my Trotec Speedy 500 is dying. I've noticed some deficient engraving in the last couple days. This morning it stopped working for a short while, I removed my covers from the back side and did a thorough dust removal. I ran two small jobs and it engraved for about .5" across a 7 " engraving, before stopping engraving (but it kept moving like nothing was wrong). On both jobs it did the cut line at the end of the job as it would regularly. Then it started working perfectly for about two hrs, I managed to run a dozen short engrave and cut jobs before it stopped working mid job.

I talked to my tech in Langley BC, Canada who says it sounds like the tube is dying. He mentioned that I may be able to get a bit more life out of my tube by changing my tickle power. Anyone want to tell me how to do this? or advise me not to?

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]]>Laser Engraving General TopicsJarami Reidhttps://sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?272225-Trotec-Tickle-adjustmentUS RF lasers compared and best place to purchase.https://sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?272177-US-RF-lasers-compared-and-best-place-to-purchase&goto=newpost
Wed, 20 Feb 2019 15:44:26 GMTAs previously stated, I have decided on pursuing a used US manufactured RF machine in the 18-24" wide format.
I am on the east coast and found a few prospects on the west coast, just not going to buy site unseen.

As far as firmware, or the machines ability to communicate with/print AI files,, The ULS machine I used had a driver on the PC where you set everything, the actual machine did not perform much but the actual job. Are newer machines standalone? can you plug a thumb drive in and run a file?

Is there a major jump in technology/performance in the ULS and Epilog lines from about 2010 up? if so where is that jump?

Do older machines support some of the newer photo software packages like one touch or photo wizard?

I have heard it mentioned about chinese lasers, that they are very simple/basic machines and easy to work on for technically inclined, Is that true with ULS and Epilog?

Besides paying a premium through a "dealer",, anyone have suggestions on where to search for a used ULS or Epilog machine?

Many Thanks,
Nick

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]]>Laser Engraving General TopicsNick Andrakahttps://sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?272177-US-RF-lasers-compared-and-best-place-to-purchaseBulk Tumbler Engraving Pricinghttps://sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?272157-Bulk-Tumbler-Engraving-Pricing&goto=newpost
Tue, 19 Feb 2019 21:38:12 GMTHello everybody. First off I have a 50 watt fiber laser with a rotary. I got my machine about 2 months ago and have been doing just fine doing stainless and painted tumblers in low quantity. I can do a painted tumbler in about 3-5 minutes depending on size of logo. stainless annealing takes a bit...Hello everybody. First off I have a 50 watt fiber laser with a rotary. I got my machine about 2 months ago and have been doing just fine doing stainless and painted tumblers in low quantity. I can do a painted tumbler in about 3-5 minutes depending on size of logo. stainless annealing takes a bit longer. I usually charge $15-$20 dollars do to tumblers. Today I got an order for 300 tumblers to be engraved with a company logo and an American flag on the other side. they want me to buy the tumblers and do the engraving. I don't really know how to price the engraving and need some input from you guys. also where to fine r-tic or Ozark tumblers at a cheaper price when buying in bulk. I will try calling a few places but Walmart seems to be the cheapest so far. they need to be green painted tumblers because that is the fastest and easiest to do also the color they want. another thing is I know a lot of you say to use a co2 laser, but I don't have one haha. I also do laser welding. so I can make money while the cups are being engraved so I want to make as much money off of them as I can but I don't NEED to make a bunch of money off the tumblers if that makes sense.

I've always been interested in these lasers, but have no real world experience with them. Just warning you, this might be a very stupid question.

It's definitely a question that is going to be very hard to convey over text.

I guess the easiest way for me to phrase it is to simplify the question. Say I have a piece of maple a foot wide, a foot tall, and an inch thick. Would it be possible to cut that piece of wood in half with a laser so the result would be two pieces of maple one foot wide, one foot tall, and a half inch thick? Essentially I'm wondering if the lasers in these systems only remove material from the top down or if they can cut at any other kind of angle.

Thanks for entertaining my question. I hope you're all having fun with these toys! :-) I'm trying to think of any way I can justify buying one.

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]]>Laser Engraving General TopicsJustin Meauxhttps://sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?272135-4-Dimensional-Laser-CutsEngraving Brickshttps://sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?272121-Engraving-Bricks&goto=newpost
Mon, 18 Feb 2019 17:23:43 GMTHi All,
I run a small laser-cutting & engraving business just outside of Atlanta, GA. I engrave quite a few clay bricks, and the numbers keep increasing.
My problem is that I canít seem to get any information on the best way to engrave bricks.
The laser-cutter manufacturers donít seem to know, and the brick engravers wonít tell meÖ
Iím running a custom-built 80-watt (RECI tube) machine.
Iíve always engraved bricks by engraving (not the ďcontourĒ way.) This seems to give a much better result. The problem is that itís very slow.
I know I could get a higher-powered laser. Is the engraving speed inversely proportional to power? In other words, if I double my power, can I cut my time in half? Even if I cut my time in half, Iím still looking at quite a while per brick.
Iíve seen videos of galvo-type engravers that use f-theta lenses. Do these work for bricks?
Has anyone tried bricks with a fiber laser?
Any advice or suggestions would be GREATLY appreciated!
Thanks much,
Tim

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]]>Laser Engraving General TopicsTim Waltershttps://sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?272121-Engraving-BricksLaser for Engraving, etching and lte cuttinghttps://sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?272078-Laser-for-Engraving-etching-and-lte-cutting&goto=newpost
Sun, 17 Feb 2019 15:23:12 GMTMy Son and I had use of a ULS 4.6 at "Tech Shop" for 6 months before they closed.
I have search and found nothing in our area (Co-Op, maker space, etc),So looking at purchasing one.

It would be used in a non production (hobby) setting by Me, Son, and graphics artist daughter.
The majority of the work would be raster and vector etching.
I would like to try engraving some gun stocks.
Light cutting, acrylic up to 3/16, balsa ply up to 1/8", reg ply up to 1/8"

Work area absolute min 12x24", preferred 16" x 24", 24" x 36" if there was a fire sale :)

If a lower powered laser is better for etching, I don't mind a slower cutting.

Mechanically and electronics I am very well versed in, I have an electronics bench and a small fab shop out in the garage. I built my own 3D printer, but do not feel like doing that with the laser. A kit maybe.
I would prefer better electronics and firmware (controller).

On etching un stocks,I am assuming carriage based laser could only etch/engrave the flat "side" of a stock,, what type of machine would be able to wrap the engraving around the curved parts?

I'm not against getting a used chassis and installing my own electronics,

12x24 I would like to be under 2000.
16x24 I would like t be under 3000